Girls basketball: 7 teams to watch in 2018

There were a few surprises in Section 1 girls basketball through the first half of the season, with defending section champions Ossining, Somers, Irvington and Haldane looking primed to hoist the gold balls again in March. As we enter the second half of the season, here are seven under-the-radar teams you will want to keep an eye on.

Byram Hills

The Bobcats are off to a perfect 6-0 start under first-year head coach Tara Flaherty, who left White Plains over the summer after rebuilding the Tigers’ program. Byram Hills has held all but one opponent under 30 points this season, but played a relatively weak schedule in December. With league games against Class A foes Ardsley, Harrison, Rye, Pelham and Eastchester on the horizon, January will be Byram’s chance to prove if it is a contender or pretender for the gold ball.

White Plains and Ardsley in girls basketball action during the 38th annual Warnock Family Tournament at Irvington High School Dec. 1, 2016. White Plains won the game.(Photo11: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)

Clarkstown North

The Rams let an outbracket playoff game slip away to White Plains last year, and are looking to make a deeper run this time around. Clarkstown North earned an impressive 51-42 win over Scarsdale toward the end of December to head into the winter break with a nice swing of momentum.

Panas

The Panthers, a preseason favorite to make another deep postseason run this year, were hit with some injuries in the beginning of the season but are now at full strength. With a well-rounded array of scorers and an experienced roster, expect Panas to make some noise in 2018.

Hastings

The Yellow Jackets ran off eight consecutive wins to open the season before dropping a heartbreaker to Bronxville on Tuesday, 37-36, after a buzzer-beater narrowly missed. Freshman Melannie Daley, a coveted college prospect, has only played three games for Hastings due to injury. When she returns, the Yellow Jackets’ stingers will be sharper than ever.

Eastchester

The Eagles were nursing clipped wings at the start of the season, with point guard Ashley Anello recovering from an ACL tear and forward Nicole Patrylow nursing a sprained ankle. Eastchester started to take flight heading into 2018, but will soar if Anello gets back to the court this season. The team is hoping to have her back around mid-January, but there is no set timetable for her return.

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Eastchester defeats Panas 62-54 in the Section 1 Class A girls semifinal basketball game at the Westchester County Center in White Plains on Thursday, March 2, 2017. (Photo11: John Meore/The Journal News)